Page:History of the Indian Archipelago Vol 2.djvu/100

 82 GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE In collating the languages of the Archipelago, the most ordinary observer must be struck with the prodigious number of words in all the more civi- lized languages, radically and essentially the same. Such words are numerous in proportion to the civi- lization of each tribe, and are few in proportion to its rudeness ; until, among the utter savages, ex- cluded by circumstances from all intercourse with the greater tribes, hardly a parallel word is to be discovered. The first point in an investigation into this curious subject is, to determine the nature and character of the class of words which is com- mon to the more civilized dialects ; but words of this nature are so various and extensive, that the selection becomes a matter of difficulty and nicety* If, on the one hand, words of this class be less essential to each language than its own ra- dical stock, they are, on the other, more necessary to it, as the language of an improved community, than the Sanskrit, commonly the medium of intro- ducing words more extrinsic and adventitious. I would say, generally, that the class of words indi- cating the existence of a great Polynesian language are generally such as indicate the first and neces- sary great steps in the progress of civilization ; ar- guing thence, that civilization and improvement e- manated from the people who spoke it. The fol- lowing may be enumerated as examples : — the »ames of useful plants and grains, such as rice, 10